Jairo B. Francia Charged With Assault, Destruction Of Property And More After Throwing Shovel At Police Officer In Takoma Park, Md.

TAKOMA PARK, Md. (WUSA) -- A Silver Spring man has several charges against him after reportedly wielding a shovel at two security guards and then throwing a shovel at a Takoma Park police officer who had responded to the scene. The shovel hit the officer in the foot.

According to police, 31-year-old Jairo B. Francia was asked to leave the Tropicana Restaurant on Flower Avenue because he was drunk and being disorderly. Once outside, Francia allegedly punched the glass front door before hitting a guard in the face. The guard used his taser on Francia. Francia was struck in the upper torso, but it reportedly didn't affect him.

Police say Francia then ran to a parked car and started yelling death threats before fleeing on foot down Flower Avenue. There, he saw a woman in front of her home and vandalized her car, say police. The woman asked Francia not to touch her car and Francia is accused of then threatening to shoot her.

Francia then ran back to the restaurant and got into another fight with a guard. At some point, he ran to the back of the restaurant and picked up a shovel. Officers saw him wielding the shovel at two security guards and asked him to drop it. Instead of dropping it, Francia is accused of throwing the shovel at a police officer, which struck him in the foot, before fleeing towards Sligo Creek Parkway.

Officers chased Francia down Sligo Creek Parkway before Francia disappeared in woods behind Roanoke Avenue. The Sligo Creek Parkway was then shut down so police could search, with the assistance of Montgomery County and Maryland-National Capital Park police. A K-9 unitl tracked Francia to Caroll Avenue and Long Branch Parkway. Francia then ran back into the woods before Francia was found inside the 7-Eleven at 900 Merrimac Drive.

Police say Francia refused orders and police then physically took him into custody.

Fracia has been charged with first-degree assault, three counts of second-degree assault, destruction of property, disturbing the peace, failure to obey a lawful order and resisting arrest.